Establishing three solid waste recycling plants…a partnership between Egypt and South Korea
Establishing three factories to recycle solid waste…a partnership between Egypt and South Korea
Egyptian-Korean relations are still strong and distinguished, especially during the era of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and this was confirmed by “Minister of Local Development” Major General Hisham Amna. Not only that, but the minister spoke about the history of the two countries – economically and socially – extending for more than 70 years, and how South Korea is Egypt’s primary partner on the commercial level in the Southeast Asian region, and that it is an important source for transferring industrial technology to Egypt, especially in the field of environmental work.
Major General Hisham Amna’s statements came during the celebration held at the Al-Massa Hotel in the New Administrative Capital, on the occasion of the establishment of three factories specialized in solid waste recycling in the governorates of Minya, Gharbia, and Sohag, in the presence of Dr. Han Wajin, the “Korean Minister of Environment,” with a number of Egyptian ministers, and representatives of both sides at more than one level, in addition to the South Korean ambassador in Cairo.
More than that, Major General Hisham Amna said about this historical relationship: “The bilateral relationship between Egypt and South Korea has witnessed a remarkable development in the past years, and the evidence and sign of this is the transition of the relationship between the two countries to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership in all areas of cooperation.” Praising the fruitful cooperation between the Ministry of Local Development and the South Korean government, specifically the cooperation between the Ministry and the Korea Institute for Environmental Industries and Technology in integrated solid waste management, Amna welcomed the proposal submitted by the Institute to establish a training simulator complex at the Ministry of Local Development training center in Saqqara, which will have a promising future in building the capabilities of local cadres.
Regarding this strategic partnership, Amna stressed that its features were evident in the memorandums of understanding that the two countries signed to enhance strategic cooperation in many fields. Egypt was willing – when signing these memorandums of understanding – to provide an investment climate for projects coming from South Korea, especially those new national projects. Egypt also targeted, through this long-term cooperation, projects to preserve the environment and confront climate change.
In view of this, the Minister of Local Development explained the extent of the Egyptian government’s interest in strategies for achieving local development and improving the quality of services in various fields, and from here Egypt has adopted projects that work to strengthen the principles of decentralization and help develop the countryside, as part of regional local development.
As a result of this governmental importance towards these development projects, the Egyptian government worked – according to the minister’s confirmation – to empower local administrations and localize international goals in the areas of sustainable development, especially the areas of localizing adaptation and mitigation strategies locally.
While Major General Hisham Amna confirmed this local administrative empowerment, he pointed to its realistic results, demonstrating the strategic consensus between the governments of Egypt and South Korea in this regard, and this is through the memorandum of understanding that the Egyptian Ministry of Local Development concluded with the South Korean Ministry of Interior regarding “Egyptian-Korean cooperation in the field of local development.” This memorandum included many cooperative areas, such as: the field of training and qualifying cadres, and before this there was fruitful cooperation between The two sides, which entered into force within the framework of the “Decent Life” initiative with the “Samuel Endong” Foundation, the Korean arm in the field of rural development, as the two sides quickly implemented training and cooperation programs for this effective Egyptian initiative.
The minister went on to discuss these Egyptian efforts in the field of local development, pointing to the effort made between Egypt’s ministries and institutions regarding the integrated and sustainable management of solid waste, as it is a resource for a circular economy, an important factor in providing green jobs, and a supporter of decent livelihoods, as well as enhancing the ability to reduce the consumption of natural resources in a way that achieves environmental protection now and in the future.
For this reason, Egypt has established two important foundations for building the solid waste system in a sustainable and comprehensive manner, namely: integration between the parties concerned with solid waste management, then integration between the efforts of the government and private sectors, and this with the participation of international institutions and development partners; To enable local administration, whether through developing and building the capabilities of existing local administrations, or by building supportive local administrations.
In clarification of these two important foundations, Major General Hisham Amna pointed out that the comprehensive, integrated and sustainable solid waste system has been based – since 2019 – on axes, the most important of which are: raising the efficiency of treatment and disposal operations, raising the efficiency of collection and transportation operations, tightening control and monitoring processes, and increasing environmental awareness, in addition to expanding the use of technology to treat these solid wastes; Until it turns into a sustainable energy source.
The Minister of Local Development confirmed that these important axes had satisfactory results on the ground, as processing and recycling factories were established, and safe sanitary landfills were established, in addition to the supply of intermediate stations. Drawing attention to the fact that these realistic efforts have contributed to reducing negative practices in waste management.
The Minister of Local Development concluded his speech by noting that Egypt is sparing no effort to support the private sector and its investments, and that the Ministry – in particular – is prepared to strengthen cooperation relations between the two sides in the future, at all levels, and this is in light of the Egyptian development in the fields of improving the environment and confronting climate change, as it encouragesgreen investments in general, and supports the expansion of solid waste projects. Especially.
